Catch a wave and read the latest news and views from life at sea on cruise ship vacations by syndicated columnists Jim and Barb Fox.

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Wednesday, February 25, 2015

(News Release) MIAMI
(February 12, 2015) – PortMiami will be the year-round homeport for
Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ship to date, the 133,500-ton Carnival
Vista, when it launches six-
to eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning in December 2016.

Currently
under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Carnival Vista
will take cruising to new heights, introducing groundbreaking features
such as SkyRide, a
suspended open-air cycling experience; the world’s first IMAX®
Theatre on a ship; Kaleid-O-Slide, the line’s first water tube slide;
and RedFrog Pub, including the line’s first onboard brewery.

Carnival
will further bolster its leadership position in Galveston,
repositioning Carnival Breeze and Carnival Liberty to Texas in 2016,
joining Carnival Freedom which arrives
in Galveston this Saturday. Carnival Breeze and Carnival Liberty will
replace Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph, respectively, in
Galveston.

Details on new homeports for Carnival Magic and Carnival
Triumph, as well as year-round departures from San Juan,
will be provided over the coming weeks.

Cunard is proud to announce a special sailing from 2-7 October 2015 to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 5th birthday, where guests will be invited take to the dance floor for a Big Band Ball.On 4 October 2010 Cunard officially took ownership of the company’s youngest ship in the fleet, Queen Elizabeth, and for her 5th birthday the line has organized a party that aims to get everyone “In The Mood...”Originating
from America in the 1920s, the Big Band phenomena took the world by
storm, as large band ensembles delighted audiences with electrifying,
high energy performances.

During Queen Elizabeth’s
5-night cruise to Amsterdam and Bruges (from Zeebrugge) guests will be
invited to relive the heyday of Swing and Jazz at the ship’s own Big
Band Ball.

Day-long celebrations will thrill both Jedi-in-training and the Jedi Masters of the family

CELEBRATION,
Fla. – In 2016, Disney Cruise Line guests can celebrate
the legendary adventures and iconic characters from the Star Wars saga during a new, day-long celebration aboard eight special sailings on the Disney Fantasy: Star Wars Day at Sea.

Marking the first official appearance of the heroes and villains of Star Wars aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship, Star Wars
Day at Sea combines the power of the Force, the magic of Disney and the
excitement of cruising for an out-of-this-galaxy experience unlike any
other.

Occurring one day during each of eight Disney Fantasy sailings, Star Wars Day at Sea will transport guests to a galaxy far, far away -- in the Western Caribbean.

MIAMI – Royal
Caribbean International’s new generation Oasis-class ship, Harmony
of the Seas, is set to launch in April 2016.

The third in the
Oasis class of ships – currently the largest cruise ships in the world
– will continue the award-winning cruise line’s philosophy of innovation
and imagination to offer a unique vacation adventure for guests.

“We
are orchestrating a medley of new exciting concepts with the best Royal
Caribbean innovations to strike the perfect chord for adventurous vacationers.
That is why we are calling our third Oasis-class ship Harmony of the
Seas,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
Harmony of the Seas, featuring the
cruise line’s design of seven distinct neighborhoods for which Oasis class
is known, will offer the most amazing collection of experiences, amenities
and activities at sea.

Waterslide-overlooking-Central-Park

Guests can test their mettle on the ship’s three
multi-story waterslides, all of which twist and turn over Central Park
10 decks below. One of the slides also will feature a champagne bowl that
swirls guests around as they make their approach to the end of the ride.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

13 February 2015 - On 5 February, Cunard kicked off the company’s 175th Anniversary celebrations in the US by paying homage to the Queen Mary when Queen Elizabeth
docked in the port of Long Beach, California for the first time.

Enthusiastic well-wishers turned out for the festivities which featured
an emotional speech read by the Queen Mary’s Commodore Everette Hoard to
the gathered crowd about the history of the Queen Mary, currently
celebrating her 80th year in public life. Whistle salutes between the
two ships followed, and a dazzling fireworks display finished the day as
the ship pulled away from her berth.

This was the first time a Cunard ship had berthed in Long Beach since
Queen Mary arrived at her retirement home in October 1967. In recent
years the current Cunard fleet has saluted Queen Mary during brief
visits to the harbour.

SANTA
CLARITA, Calif. (February 13, 2015) – Guests can experience the
awe-inspiring sights Alaska has to offer by land and sea at a special
price. Princess Cruises’ “Denali on Sale” event offers fares as low as $99 per day with refundable deposit.

Alaska land and sea vacations
combine the cruise line’s popular seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers
Alaska cruise, which includes scenic cruising through pristine Glacier
Bay National Park, with a three to eight-day land tour featuring stays
at exclusive Princess Wilderness Lodges and scenic rail service as
guests explore the picturesque Alaska wilderness and see the majesty of
the Denali area, particularly Mt. McKinley, North America’s tallest
peak.

The classic, restored tugboat Swell –
owned by the award-winning Canadian company Maple Leaf Adventures –
begins service with two inaugural voyages in April and May. She joins
Maple Leaf’s other classic ships in the fleet.

She will be the first boutique-size expedition ship on the west coast of Canada with all-private-ensuite staterooms.

Swell’sMaiden Voyage runs in the balmy Gulf Islands National Park in southern BC, Apr 20-24, 2015.
Passengers on the maiden voyage will be part of the ship’s blessing
ceremony with some very special guests, and will receive commemorative
gifts including a special bottle of wine from the local Saanich
wine-growing region.

Valentine’s Day Festivities Commemorate Carnival’s Third Year-Round Ship in Texas with Day of Celebration for Military
Families Including First Carnival LIVE Outdoor Concert

MIAMI
(Feb. 16, 2015) – Carnival Cruise Line, Texas’ number-one cruise
operator, marked the arrival of Carnival Freedom at its new year-round
homeport of Galveston on Saturday,
Feb. 14, with a celebration honoring U.S. military personnel and their
families.

In
partnership with Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization
that supports military families, service members and their families
were treated to an overnight
event featuring a variety of daytime activities, including an exclusive
outdoor Carnival LIVE performance by country music superstar Martina
McBride, along with dinner and a full evening of entertainment, all
compliments of Carnival.

Prior to McBride’s concert, Carnival presented a check in the amount of $100,000 to Operation Homefront.

From
June to August 2015, the Disney Magic returns to Europe, visiting the
Norwegian Fjords and Iceland for the first time. Guests exploring these
new ports, steeped in Viking history, will be treated to richly diverse
destinations that showcase iconic locations, enchanting cultures,
tantalizing cuisine and unrivaled experiences.

To
elevate guests’ experiences in Norway, Disney Cruise Line Port
Adventures are designed to entertain and inspire both children and
adults—in true Disney fashion—with an extra dash of pixie dust.

MIAMI – Give each other the gift of love that everyone can share: a Royal
Caribbean vacation of a lifetime. And for a limited time, Royal Caribbean’s
new BOGO Wild offer sweetens the savings with additional spending credit
to help guests seek new adventures and create new memories together.

From now through Mar. 10, 2015, vacationers can get half off the
second guest’s cruise fare when making a new booking in an Oceanview or
higher-category stateroom with a full-fare guest on a five-night or longer
cruise, plus up to $200 onboard credit per stateroom to spend on the ship.

Guests can apply their onboard credit toward a wide range experiences to
further sweeten their vacation, including cocktails while lounging by the
pool; a milestone celebration in a specialty restaurant; or refreshing
with a rejuvenating spa treatment. The BOGO Wild offer applies for most
Royal Caribbean ships, sailings from May 15, 2015, through Apr. 30, 2016.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Largest and most innovative cruise ship
at Port Canaveral sets sail with new dining, staterooms and more

MIAMI, Feb. 02, 2015 – Re-emerging
from a 24-day drydock at Grand Bahama Shipyard, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom
of the Seas has returned to service to offer vacationers one
of the best cruise ships for incredible Caribbean’s adventures.

The ship
showcased its new features to more than 1,700 of the cruise line’s value
travel agent partners on an exclusive two-night sailing before embarking
on its first regular itinerary on Sunday, Feb. 1.

The newly revitalized Freedom of the
Seas will amaze guests with a range of new tantalizing dining options,
new staterooms categories, the new retro-chic R Bar lounge, and a bow-to-stern
refresh of the entire ship’s furnishings.

Freedom of the Seas continues
Royal Caribbean’s 45-year history of taking vacationers aboard the world’s
most innovative cruise ships to some of the most beautiful destinations
in the Caribbean. Throughout, the cruise line keeps pushing the boundaries
of cruise vacations and has been recognized with the most awards in the
industry.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Seattle, Wash. — Holland America Line’s ms Noordam
and ms Zuiderdam achieved perfect scores of 100 on recent routine
United States Public Health inspections conducted by the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Westerdam, shown in Grand Turk, also received a perfect score in 2014. (Jim Fox photo)

The unannounced inspection for ms Noordam was held Jan. 5, 2015,
during a call at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., at the start of a 10-day
Caribbean cruise. Zuiderdam was inspected Dec. 19, 2014, during a call
at Fort Lauderdale at the start of a seven-night Caribbean cruise.

“Our shipboard and shoreside teams work hard to achieve a perfect
score on CDC inspections, and to have two more ships get 100 is a
testament to their hard work and dedication,” said Orlando Ashford,
president of Holland America Line. “Congratulations to both ships for
this well-deserved achievement.”

Seattle – Windstar Cruises, recently named Condé Nast Traveler’s World’s Best Small Ship Cruise Line, announces their new Island Experiences in the Caribbean, part of the complimentary Private Event
program launching around the world this year.

The new Island Experience
is designed to treat guests to the feeling of having their “own private
island” for the day, and is offered on every Windstar Caribbean
itinerary.

Mark Spitz

Windstar’s inaugural Island Experience started with the January 31 voyage of the Yachtsman’s Caribbean
with special celebrity guest Olympic legend Mark Spitz.

Best known for
his astonishing win of seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympic Games in
Munich, Spitz will serve as host at the Island Experience on Prickly
Pear Beach, a secluded and uninhabited nature refuge in the British
Virgin Islands. Spitz will conduct a series of swimming master classes
for guests who want to enhance their swimming abilities, or for those
who simply want to get to know the Olympian. Spitz is also slated to
give an onboard lecture and to join guests for dinner.

All Island Experience Private Events will offer beach and sport
activities such as volleyball, snorkeling, and bocce ball, as well as a
full beach barbeque with dishes including lobster and shrimp mac and
cheese, “surfs up” tequila lobster tacos, Cajun jambalaya, a full burger
bar, and more.

The events will also include a Selfie Station, where
guests are encouraged to pose for selfies and tag pictures with the
hashtag #WindstarCruises.

Robert Key with the Magna Carta copy at Salisbury Cathedral, at the tomb of William Longspee,
half-brother of King John, who was at Runnymede on 15 June 1215.
He was Earl of Salisbury and he was the first person to be buried in Salisbury Cathedral.

27 January 2015 –
A rare facsimile of arguably one of the most important documents in
English history, the Magna Carta, will be going on display on board
Cunard’s flagship liner, Queen Mary2 and sister ship Queen Victoria between May and September 2015, as the ‘Great Charter’ sealed by King John in 1215 celebrates its 800th anniversary year.

As the shipping line continues to celebrate its 175th anniversary
year, Salisbury Cathedral will be lending a rare facsimile of its Magna
Carta, one of only four of the original 1215 documents in existence, to
Cunard. The facsimile will be displayed in the Grand Lobby of Queen Mary 2 from early May until September 2015, with a 6 night sojourn aboard Queen Victoria in late May.

Seattle, Wash., Jan. 27, 2015 — With 39 cruises throughout Canada
and New England in 2015, Holland America Line offers an extensive array
of cruises in the region that range from seven to 15 days. The voyages
carry guests in elegant comfort aboard ms Eurodam, ms Maasdam or ms Veendam.

Whether exploring the area during the summer when the skies shine
blue or in the fall when the leaves put on an incredible display of
jewel-toned hues, Canada and New England is perfect for cruising in
either season.

“We offer an incredible number of Canada and New England cruises
because this in-demand region is rich in culture, history and stunning
scenery — making it an ideal cruise destination that’s close to home,”
said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “There’s
something for everyone on these itineraries, whether it’s exploring
nature, trying local cuisine, antique shopping or visiting historical
locales.”

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

MIAMI (February 3, 2015) – Popular travel expert Samantha Brown is the star of an engaging new video series on
Carnival’s YouTube channel
designed to provide “cruise rookies” with all they need to know about
the seagoing vacation experience, with helpful information on everything
from on-board dining and activity choices to cruising with kids and
frequently asked questions.

The
“How to Cruise With Travel Pro Samantha Brown” series is part of a
revamp of the line’s YouTube channel which, in addition to robust new
content and a brand new look and
feel, offers streamlined playlists and an optimized mobile experience
while allowing consumers to more easily search for topics they’re most
interested in.

The series will also be part of the featured content on
awaywego.carnival.com,
the
line’s new online travel hub with articles and videos by top travel and
lifestyle bloggers focusing on destinations, culinary options, cruising
tips, and more.

All suite yachts to undergo a $17 million stem-to-stern transformation

Seattle – Windstar Cruises, recently named as World’s Best Small Ship Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveler,
expands their fleet from four ships to six in May 2015 with the
addition of two small luxury ships from Seabourn. Windstar
unveils the changes planned to transform these yachts to Windstar’s
signature style. Take the tour here.

Windstar takes possession of the first Seabourn ship on April 15,
2015, when it undergoes an $8.5 million, three-week renovation in Genoa,
Italy. It will debut as Star Breeze during a christening
ceremony on May 6, 2015 in Nice, France. The second ship follows suit,
joining the fleet on May 4, 2015, and completing a similar $8.5 million
renovation. The yacht will be christened Star Legend on May 25, 2015 in Rome, Italy.

Star Breeze and Star Legend join sister-ship, Star Pride, marking
the completion of the acquisition announced in February of 2013. The
expansion doubles the size of Windstar’s fleet of three luxury sailing
yachts, making the company a market leader in small ship cruising with
300 or fewer passengers, with a total of 1,242 berths and six ships.

Norwegian’s newest ship to feature the line’s first snow room and largest Thermal Suite at sea,
along with adults-only lounge areas

MIAMI – Norwegian
Cruise Line’s newest and largest ship, Norwegian Escape, will offer a
wide array of spaces for guests to relax and unwind while at sea when
the
ship debuts in October 2015.

Guests will be transported into sheer
serenity with the line’s most innovative Mandara Spa to date, a tranquil
hideaway that at its epicenter will feature the largest Thermal Suite
at sea, outfitted with the line’s first Snow
Room.

In addition to the luxurious spa, adults will have two private
lounge spaces to enjoy onboard at Vibe Beach Club and Spice H2O, which will feature an all-new grotto area for guests to cool off after a day of sunbathing.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Princess Cruises
has launched a fresh advertising campaign to remind travelers of the
memorable moments they can experience while aboard a Princess Cruises
vacation.

The multi-million-dollar program comes on the heels of last
year’s successful “come back new” marketing campaign that marked the
return of the line’s advertising on television in more than a decade and
reminded viewers that cruising can transform and enrich their lives.

Princess’ “come back new” print ads explore a

variety of destinations, and capture

the transformative moments of exploration.

The
new travel advertising campaign debuts at the beginning of “wave
season” when many guests book their cruise vacations for the upcoming
year, and promotes Princess Cruises’ 50th anniversary milestone with national broadcast, print and digital advertising.

Created
by San Francisco-based, award-winning agency Goodby, Silverstein and
Partners, the broadcast creative evolves the storytelling approach of
the “come back new” theme to showcase Princess guests experiencing
unforgettable events as they happen on Alaska cruises and cruises to the Caribbean, two of the line’s most popular destinations.

Print ads explore a variety of cruise destinations,
cultures and culinary experiences that can lead guests to discover new
things while on a cruise vacation. The ads and other campaign materials
will roll out through the month of January.

“This
new campaign is an exciting opportunity for us to continue the
successful momentum of our first ‘come back new’ campaign with fresh
content for our 50th anniversary year,” said Gordon Ho,
senior vice president of marketing, Princess Cruises.

3 February 2015 – Cunard and venerable jazz label Blue Note Records are proud to announce an exciting entertainment partnership, which will debut on Cunard’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, on October 29, 2015.

Guests onboard will embark on a very special Transatlantic Crossing, featuring intimate jazz performances by the Blue Note 75th Anniversary All Star Band, Our Point of View,
formed for the label’s milestone anniversary in 2014.

MIAMI, February 3, 2015 – Oasis
of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and the third Oasis-class ship
will soon have a new sister to welcome to the Oasis class family.

Today
marked the steel cutting for a fourth Oasis ship, scheduled to be delivered
in 2018. The steel cutting, marking the official start of construction,
took place at the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, where the
third Oasis-class ship also is being built.The Oasis class took the cruise industry
by storm with the introduction of Oasis of the Seas in 2009, featuring
a revolutionary design with a split superstructure and the cruise line’s
neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas. At 225,282 GRT
and spanning 16 decks with 2,700 staterooms, the Oasis-class ships also
introduced extraordinary “firsts” at sea such as an 82 foot-long zip
line, a handcrafted carousel, the Rising Tide bar, the AquaTheater high-diving
performance venue, and the Central Park with more than 12,000 live trees
and plants.

The Oasis class also offers amenities that can only be
found on Royal Caribbean, such as twin FlowRider surf simulators, cantilevered
whirlpools, an ice-skating rink, the H2O Zone kids aquapark, and the Royal
Promenade, an interior boulevard that stretches nearly the length of the
ship and flanked by restaurants, lounges and boutiques, among many others.

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Cruise Line Surprises Him with Invitation to Set Sail on First- Ever Seahawks Fan Cruise

Sailing with the Seahawks - Princess Cruises Vice President Lisa Syme presents Seahawks Super fan PJ LeDorze with an invitation to join the first-ever Seattle Seahawks fan cruise departing from Seattle to Alaska over Father’s Day in June.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (January 26, 2015) – Princess Cruises,
the Official Cruise Line of the Seattle Seahawks, honored Seattle
Seahawks fan PJ LeDorze for embodying the spirit of the 12s and
presented him with an invitation to cruise aboard its first-ever “Sail
with the 12s Seahawks Fan Cruise” over Father’s Day this June.

LeDorze
performed a random act of kindness following the Jan. 18 conference
championship game, giving his Seahawks jersey to a young, dejected
Packers fan and highlighting the true spirit of sportsmanship.

The
seven-night Alaska cruise vacation aboard Crown Princess will depart
Seattle on June 20 and feature the ultimate in player interaction and
onboard fan activities as it sails to Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord, Ketchikan, and Victoria, B.C. Fan cruise activities will include:

Seattle, WA, January 27, 2015—Whether
it’s a new angle on the history of a destination or learning the right
settings for photography, hobbyists and experts alike have seven theme
cruise topics to choose from on select small ship cruises with Un-Cruise Adventures in 2015. Theme cruises explore Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, Alaska, coastal Washington and the Columbia & Snake Rivers.

Un-Cruise
Adventures’ fleet of boutique yachts and small ships carry 22-88 guests
on adventure and river cruises lasting one week to 21 nights. All
adventure activities and shore excursions are included. For theme
cruise departures, a guest expert joins the cruise for a week of special
presentations and hands-on learning opportunities.

“We
invite specialists on board to add another element to the week’s
adventure,” said Captain Dan Blanchard, CEO. “Since our vessels are
intimate with less than 90 guests on board, you’ll have time to meet and
talk to the photographer or marine biologist. Nothing is taken away
from our regular programming; we’re adding to it.”

Queen Elizabeth Call Marks First-Ever Cunard Stop to the Port of Long Beach

Meeting of the Queens will Celebrate
Cunard Line’s 175th Anniversary with Whistle Salutes and Fireworks

28 January 2015 -- On 5 February 2015, Cunard'sQueen Elizabeth will meet her royal relative, the legendary Queen Mary, in a Cunard Royal Rendezvous when Queen Elizabeth
docks in Long Beach for the first time ever.

This historic maiden call
is particularly significant, not only because it is the first time a
Cunard vessel has ever called at Long Beach, but because both Cunard and
the Queen Mary are celebrating milestone anniversaries
this year.

Cunard is marking 175 years since the first Transatlantic
Crossing from England to the United States, inaugurating scheduled mail
service to the U.S. and changing the face of ocean travel forever.

The Queen Mary,
who has crossed the Atlantic over 2,000 times while in service and is
now a permanent hotel and museum in Long Beach harbor, is commemorating
80 years afloat.

Norwegian Cruise Line is taking its best Wave
Season offer to the next level with Norwegian’s Freestyle Choice Plus,
bringing guests more ways to enhance their dream cruise vacation, with
up to $3,500 in added
value.

Norwegian’s Freestyle Choice Plus builds on the popular
Norwegian’s Freestyle Choice, and gives those who book a new three-day
or longer cruise vacation from February 1through February 28, 2015 the option to choose from up to four special offers†-- a free Ultimate Dining Package,
a free Ultimate Beverage Package, up to $300 in onboard spending money and the recently added
Friends, Family & Kids Sail Free on select sailings, where the third through eighth guest in each stateroom sails for free.